After signing his six-year, $45.879 million contract extension Monday, Victor Cruz said in a conference call that he never believed he would leave the New York Giants. The only question was if he would remain with the team for one year or more.

Cruz said it was "very important" for him to stay in New York because of his family ties, community work and the Giants' faith in him at the beginning of his career. Although Cruz was free to field offers as a restricted free agent, his understanding is that his agent never received a phone call from another team.

Stuck in negotiations since early last season, Cruz said he realized his agent was doing the best he could and "just felt like it was time" to sign.

"I'm done with the back and forth," Cruz figured. "What's on the table is a really good deal. ... My family is set financially for the rest of my life. That's all I could ask for."

Now that his contract situation is clarified, Cruz's next order of business is to get teammate Hakeem Nicks locked up long term for a run at "a couple more championships." That will prove more difficult than Cruz landing the NFL's second-richest contract for a slot receiver.